beginnerA1 · TOCFL a1discoursediscourse marker
都
Pattern
Subject / topic + 都 + predicate
Key words
Core idea
都 marks totality: all, both, or every member of a group. It usually comes after the subject or topic it refers to and before the predicate.
The group must already be clear. 都 does not create the group by itself; it says the whole group is included.
Word order note
A common beginner mistake is putting 都 before the subject. Keep the group first, then put 都 before what is true of that group.
With 每 phrases, 都 often reinforces that every member is included.
Examples
我们都去学校。
Wǒmen dōu qù xuéxiào.
We all go to school.
这两个杯子都很小。
Zhè liǎng ge bēizi dōu hěn xiǎo.
These two cups are both small.
每个人都有手机。
Měi ge rén dōu yǒu shǒujī.
Everyone has a phone.
Common mistakes
Avoid
都我们去学校。
Use
我们都去学校。
都 usually follows the subject or topic it refers to.